Number of Covid-19 cases soars to 2,280 across Punjab

With 56 fresh Corona positive cases, the total number of coronavirus cases across the province of Punjab has risen to 2,280 including around 363 in Lahore.

Among the total cases, 701 patients were Zaireens currently housed in quarantines in Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Faisalabad, 696 were Tableeghi Jamaat members, 70 were jail inmates. About 803 cases were reported in citizens from across the province.

In Punjab, so far 18 deaths have been reported due to novel coronavirus while over 40 have so far recovered from the disease.

So far, over 31353 tests of corona have been conducted and hopefully, from next week, testing capacity in Punjab will be increased to daily 5,000 tests, sources said.

In Lahore, after surfacing of corona positive cases in Chah Miran, Makhanpura and Sikandaria Colony, the areas have been sealed and corona tests are being conducted.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid told media here at Governor's House that so far around 50 locally transmitted cases have been reported and the decision to extend or relax lockdown would be taken after April 14, 2020.

She maintained that 3800 beds have been reserved for Corona patients at hospitals and this number could be raised to 10,000 beds in the hospitals. However, she said they are reviewing the situation of all cities of Punjab on daily basis; more cases of coronavirus were being reported from Northern Punjab as compared to Southern Punjab.

When asked about treatment of corona patients through blood plasma of recovered people, the minister said the treatment has been started; we are preparing lists of recovered patients and after conducting test twice, plasma of recovered patient is used.

Answering a question about normalization of the corona situation, she said: "Nothing definite in this regard could be predicted."

The health minister also visited the 200-bed field hospital established at the Kala Shah Kaku Campus of the Government College University Lahore for coronavirus patients.

The minister reviewed arrangements for providing treatment and care to coronavirus patients and said that all confirmed patients from Kala Shah Kaku quarantine centres should be shifted to this GCU field hospital.